Many popular kinds of cereal are extremely high in sugar, leading to spikes in blood sugar levels as well as potential health implications such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. While many cereals boast added vitamins and minerals, this often doesn’t make up for the lack of protein and fiber they offer. Here are 17 of the least healthy cereals to start your day with.
Froot Loops
Sugar is the first ingredient on this cereal’s box—there are 12 grams in a one-cup serving. This is concerning because sugar contributes to health issues such as obesity and diabetes. LiveStrong says, “The front of Froot Loops’s colorful packaging boasts fiber and whole grains, but not the high sugar content. Froot Loops does not have the nutritional value of a healthy cereal.”
Cocoa Puffs
The chocolate flavoring in this cereal further adds to the high sugar content, and there is very minimal vitamin or mineral content. Cereals such as Cocoa Puffs are raising health concerns due to their targeting of children in marketing campaigns.
Cap’n Crunch
High fructose corn syrup is the primary ingredient in Cap’n Crunch, a sweetener that is linked to high rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. The cereal has a very high calorie count and provides consumers with little nutritional benefit.
Trix
High in artificial flavors and sugar, eating this cereal for breakfast can lead to spikes in blood sugar. On top of this, its lack of fiber and protein means it has little nutritional benefit and won’t keep you feeling full for long.
Reese’s Puffs
Corn puffs with peanut butter, Reese’s Puffs are often marketed as a ‘healthy’ cereal. According to Time Magazine, however, “This cereal ranks as the least healthy, based on nutrition scores formulated by Oxford University scientists using ratios of sugar, fiber, sodium, and other content.”
Apple Jacks
Another sugary cereal, Apple Jacks also has an artificial cinnamon flavoring. The cereal lacks any beneficial levels of vitamins or minerals, and on top of this, there are concerns about the potential health implications of the use of food colorings.
Corn Pops
Corn Pops have a high glycemic index, which can affect blood sugar levels, leading to potential diabetes or cardiovascular disease. The cereal also has a low fiber content, which is crucial for maintaining a balanced diet and feeling fuller for longer.
Golden Crisp
The high sugar content in Golden Crisp means it isn’t the best way to start your day. The Street named it one of the worst breakfast cereals. “It has 18 grams of sugar per serving. For the mathematicians, that’s over seven times the new FDA’s healthy standard.”
Honey Smacks
The preservatives used in Honey Smacks are facing ongoing concerns due to potential health risks, and on top of this, the high sugar level puts consumers at risk of obesity and diabetes. While the cereal is fortified with vitamins and minerals, it has low levels of fiber and protein, making it an unbalanced source of nutrition.
Cookie Crisp
Cookie Crisp is a highly calorie-dense cereal, and the nutrition it offers is not balanced with this. The manufacturers use artificial flavors and sweeteners in the cereal, something that is raising concerns about potential health risks for consumers.
Fruity Pebbles
The high sugar content in Fruity Pebbles means this cereal doesn’t make a healthy breakfast choice. It uses artificial colors and flavors, which come with potential health risks to consumers, and the lack of nutrients means there’s very little value in it as a meal.
Lucky Charms
The iconic marshmallows mean this cereal is packed with sugar, and there are also concerns about the artificial flavors used in the colorful cereal. Business Insider says, “With only 2 grams of fiber per serving, there are plenty of better options.”
Cocoa Krispies
Cocoa Krispies have a high sugar content, which is made worse by the chocolate flavorings added to the cereal. These chocolate cereals can cause controversy and discussions around whether they influence children’s taste preferences toward more sugary foods.
Frosted Flakes
Consistently eating foods high in sugar has serious health implications and can lead to issues such as obesity and diabetes. While this cereal is fortified with vitamins and minerals, it has very little nutritional benefit otherwise and is generally not a balanced way to start your day.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch
High levels of sugar and saturated fat make this a bad choice for your breakfast. According to Mashed, “Cinnamon Toast Crunch is one of your worst breakfast cereal choices if you’re health conscious and want to monitor your sugar intake. A small serving of the cereal has 200 calories and delivers 10 grams of sugar.”
Oreo O’s
With high levels of fat and sugar, Oreo O’s puts consumers at risk of health issues such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The cereal also contains various artificial ingredients, which have raised concerns about health implications, and on top of this, lots of professionals suggest the idea of eating cookies for breakfast may create unhealthy eating habits, particularly in children.
Sugar Crisp
With an exceptionally high sugar content, Sugar Crisp is high in calories but includes very little fiber or protein, meaning you get very little nutritional gain or long-lasting energy from the calorie intake. Consuming this for breakfast is likely to lead to spikes in your blood sugar level and crashes in your energy.
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